St. Jude member among Masters
Will the third time be a charm?
Nathan Smith certainly hopes so.
The 32-year-old North Hills resident and member of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora is competing in his third Masters this week at Augusta National in Georgia.
Smith failed to make the cut in his first two attempts, carding a 6-over-par 150 in 2004 and a 5-over 149 last year.
He was scheduled to tee off at 11:25 a.m. in today's first round, playing with Craig Stadler and Kevin Streelman. The trio tee off for the second round at 8:07 a.m. Friday.
Smith is a three-time USGA Mid-Amateur champion, thus qualifying him for the prestigious tournament. He is one of six amateurs in the field.
“Augusta National is a course that requires familiarity,” top Western Pennsylvania amateur Sean Knapp said. “The fact this is Nathan's third time down there should help him in terms of trying to make the cut.”
Also a St. Jude member, Knapp has played numerous rounds with Smith at the Chicora course and recently played in a tournament with him down south.
“His parents have a home they rent in Myrtle Beach and Nathan's been playing down there,” Knapp said. “He's already been in three or four tournaments.
“He hasn't won any of them, but he's consistently finished in the top 20. That's pretty good for a golfer coming down from the north.”
St. Jude owner Colin Dunwoody said Smith played St. Jude quite a bit in 2009, but only played the course sparingly last year.
“When he and Sean were in the semifinals of the Mid-Amateur last year, they said it'd be nice if they could play the finals together at St. Jude,” Dunwoody said.
“It was exciting, having Nathan in the Masters last year. We kept close tabs on him every round. We're proud of him and he's brought exposure to our club.”
Smith played in a par-3 event Wednesday and attended a dinner last evening.
“They keep golfers pretty busy down there,” Knapp said.
Smith missed the cut last year by a mere two strokes and Knapp emphasized he has greater knowledge of the course now.
“They've made a number of changes to that course over the years, but nothing significant from last year to now,” Knapp said. “But they always make little subtle changes.
“The way it's playing now for the practice round will be nothing like how it will play once the scoreboard lights are turned on Thursday.”
Dunwoody summed up the feelings of Smith's fellow members at St. Jude, now a semi-private club.
“Seeing him make the cut would be tremendous,” Dunwoody said. “We're pulling for him.”
